[OhLaLa]

To cut a long story short, the ram broke out of his field, got in with the young ewes and tupped the lot of them.
Pretty good possibility they are in lamb, and will be lambing in the summer.
The shearer will be due and chances are they won't have given birth.
He does his round and won't be back in this area past the slot we are allocated.
My question is what to do about shearing?
Anyone been through this? What did you do?
Would rather they weren't turned whilst in lamb.


 

[Jukes Mum]

Oh heck! Do you know far into their pregnancy they will be when your shearer comes?

[OhLaLa]

3 / 4 months, depending on when the shearer passes by.

[Hillview Farm]

When I was at college they had a February lambing flock that came into the shed one month before they were due, sheared and then housed.

cannot remember a problem at all.

[Marches Farmer]

Let him know well in advance - he may be able to get to you earlier than usual and needs to allow extra time for careful handling.

[SallyintNorth]

Strangely I have just read about a 'high welfare' farm in Massachussets where they shear all the sheep shortly before lambing.  Whether the shearers adopt specific handling techniques, I'm afraid I don't know.

[Bramblecot]

Some of the commercial farmers here shear in late January then lamb in barns in Feb .  The ewes and lambs are out again within a couple of days.  Not sure I like the method but it must be commercially viable.

[Rosemary]

Some of the commercial farmers here shear in late January then lamb in barns in Feb .  The ewes and lambs are out again within a couple of days.  Not sure I like the method but it must be commercially viable.

Of course, there may be lamb / ewe losses, while remaining commercially viable.

[SallyintNorth]

Some of the commercial farmers here shear in late January then lamb in barns in Feb .  The ewes and lambs are out again within a couple of days.  Not sure I like the method but it must be commercially viable.

Of course, there may be lamb / ewe losses, while remaining commercially viable.

I know I can't speak for all farmers, but at this point it is so not about the money.

You've planned your matings, cared for your ewes, agonised over feeding to help her grow good lambs, have plenty of milk, be in good condition to rear her lambs, but not to grow overlarge lambs and not to be fat; in the run up to and during lambing your whole being is concerned with keeping your girls fit, healthy and safe, and afterwards the lambs too... Of course overall the sale of lambs and cast ewes needs to make a profit, but that comes later when you sell.  Right now, we're not thinking about money and any loss is very keenly felt.  Perhaps not always with the personal connection with the sheep in question that a small flockkeeper would feel, but even with big numbers every loss feels like a stab in the chest that we didn't do enough, failed in our care, failed that ewe who depended upon us.

So forgive me Rosemary, but I take issue with the implication that big farmers take calculated risks with ewe and lamb lives heartlessly, on the basis of financial gain.

[Rosemary]

Some of the commercial farmers here shear in late January then lamb in barns in Feb .  The ewes and lambs are out again within a couple of days.  Not sure I like the method but it must be commercially viable.

Of course, there may be lamb / ewe losses, while remaining commercially viable.

I know I can't speak for all farmers, but at this point it is so not about the money.

You've planned your matings, cared for your ewes, agonised over feeding to help her grow good lambs, have plenty of milk, be in good condition to rear her lambs, but not to grow overlarge lambs and not to be fat; in the run up to and during lambing your whole being is concerned with keeping your girls fit, healthy and safe, and afterwards the lambs too... Of course overall the sale of lambs and cast ewes needs to make a profit, but that comes later when you sell.  Right now, we're not thinking about money and any loss is very keenly felt.  Perhaps not always with the personal connection with the sheep in question that a small flockkeeper would feel, but even with big numbers every loss feels like a stab in the chest that we didn't do enough, failed in our care, failed that ewe who depended upon us.

So forgive me Rosemary, but I take issue with the implication that big farmers take calculated risks with ewe and lamb lives heartlessly, on the basis of financial gain.

Only you mentioned the word "heartlessley".

[SallyintNorth]

If I misinterpreted your comment then I apologise 

[Rosemary]

Don't apologise.

I did mean that farmers, and all livestock keepers, take calculated risks with livestock. When anyone is setting up a commercial livestock enterprise they have to work out what the risks are, how to mitigate them and what losses they are prepared to sustain. I don't think they do it heartlessley but perhaps a bit more dispassionately than if it's not commercial and / or small scale.

I'm not saying either is right or wrong - they just are.

[Herdygirl]

A couple of years ago a ewe we thought was empty was shorn and gave birth to a healthy ram lamb 10 days later with no problems, even the shearer didn't think she was carrying.  I would have them shorn for welfare reasons and deal with any problems if they come up.  Or get another shearer, they aren't so busy later on.  At least you will have some nice well grown lambs for Easter next year. 

[Marches Farmer]

It's been reported that ewes shorn at housing have higher feed intake, presumably because they're eating more to keep warm, and this therefore improves nutrition for the lambs inside them.  Never really got this approach - if they're fed correctly all should be well and turning them out could take a lot of condition off lactating ewes with little fleece if the weather turns nasty.

[Melmarsh]

My shearer has a small flock and apparently always shears his before lambing and only a month or so before. He told me it works well for him and he's had no problems. 2years ago I had a ewe due when the shearer was coming, for various reasons she was very late being tupped and I didn't think she was in lamb but the morning the shearer was due she looked uncomfortable and waters broke as he was shearing !!! I felt bad but all was well